The teacher or students provide a list of vocabulary terms from the passage. Students then sort the words into categories matching words that seem similar together. This helps link prior knowledge to vocabulary terms.
Word sorts are used to categorize different terms into groups.
Open Sorts: Students decide the categories of words and place words into those categories
Closed Sorts: Teacher decides the categories of words and students place words into matching categories
How can I use it in class?
This is a great pre-reading strategy to see what students know about vocabulary words before you read or study your content area. Decide on the most important vocabulary words or concepts that you wish to use for the sort. You can discuss the words before you sort them, or just let students use their prior knowledge to problem solve.
Have the students cut out the words so they can physically manipulate them which helps kinesthetic learners.
Use the word sorts to review people, places, and events to see if students can group terms to correct time period, culture, story, or concept.
Sort words by analyzing their prefix, suffix, word origins, part of speech, vowel sounds, etc.
Add an extra component by having students rationalize why certain words were grouped where they are or how they placed them in that category.
Answers to an Open sort are truly endless in most cases. This allows students practice in problem solving and higher levels of thinking
You can also create sorts that are more focused. Write a main topic and then 3 examples of words that would fit under that topic. Students select the main topic from the list of 4
Circle the word in each group that includes the others.
government
council
judges
governor
generals
troops
armies
warriors
throne
coronation
crown
church
Create word sorts on the Smartboard to have students manipulate words as a class or demonstrate the possibilities of category topics.
Concept Circle: Divide a circle into four. Write 3 examples in 3 of the pie slices. Leave the 4th blank. Have students write what the big concept is.
Word Sorts
The teacher or students provide a list of vocabulary terms from the passage. Students then sort the words into categories matching words that seem similar together. This helps link prior knowledge to vocabulary terms.
Word sorts are used to categorize different terms into groups.
How can I use it in class?
This is a great pre-reading strategy to see what students know about vocabulary words before you read or study your content area. Decide on the most important vocabulary words or concepts that you wish to use for the sort. You can discuss the words before you sort them, or just let students use their prior knowledge to problem solve.
council
judges
governor
troops
armies
warriors
coronation
crown
church
Resources
Modifications for Word Sorts
Example of Word Sort with Science words and prefixes
Word Sort Definition and Step by Step
Word Sort Rationale Chart
Word Sort Smartboard with Prefixes, Roots, and Suffixes
Open and Closed Word Sort Examples